Grate shaking apparatus



Oct. 24, 1933. ZQUCK ET AL 1,931,947

GRATE SHAKING APPARATUS Filed July 22, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 24, 1933. H, ZQUCK AL 1,931,947

GRATE SHAKING APPARATUS Filed July 22, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT R5 Ml I aq a/ d B I I w ATTORNEY$ GRA TE SHAKING APPARATU 5 Filed July 22. 1926 s Sheets-Sheet 5 NM Q HM L #2 s n M k MW m 0 m m wim mm m in? u a non;

Patented Oct. 24, 1933 use so was PATENT OFFICE Shepard, 'B'ronxville, N. Y., assignors to Franklin Railway Supply Company, New York, N. Y.,

7 a corporation of Delaware Application July 22, 1926. Serial No.

4 Claims.

"--Ou'r invention relates to grate shakers, and especiallypower-operatedgrate shakers adapted for'locomotives. We aim to secure improved operation of such shakers; and particularly to pro- 5 vide flexible, accurate, and convenient control over their-operation. In previous devices of this character some troublehas been experienced from the development of lost motion between the operating piston of the power means and the grate shaking shaft. It has also been difficult in other ways to get just the-proper degree or amount of shaking demanded by the particularcondition of the fire as well as to prevent occasional unintentional dumping of the fire.

With the foregoing in mind some of the objects of our invention can be more specificallystated as -involvingthe provision of a grate shaking mechanism which will overcome the difiiculties 20 attending the development of lost motion, one which will enable the operator to have unfailing and accurate control of the degree of shaking and onewhich will prevent unintentional dumping of the fire. -In-connection with the foregoing it is also an object of our invention to provide an operating mechanism for a powergrate shaking apparatus in---which the movement of the grate will always bear a definite relation to the movement of the 30 actuatinglever or member by which such movement of the grate was brought about as will further appear. To this end it is also our object to providea servo-motor actuating mechanism for the grate and-we employ a fiuidmotor 'in our 5 preferred embodiment to be described below.

In the drawings, Fig. '1 is a fragmentary side view,- partly in'longitudinal section, showing'alocomotiveboiler fire box equipped'with a shaker mechanism conveniently embodying our inven- Fig. 2- is a'rear view-of" the boiler with the shakermechanism, showing more of the associated parts. I V

- Fig; 3 is a side View of the control valve mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with various associate'd partsyon a larger scale.

Fig.4 is an end view'of the control valve mechanism', showing a transversesection'through the valve' chest and associated parts taken as indicated by the line 44 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of ceralso the cab floor or deck while Fig. 2 aifords a rear view of the boiler, with its fire door 11. The usual fuel feed elevators 12, 12 of a standard Duplex automatic stoker mechanism also appear in Fig. 2. The grate 13 in the fire box, 9 comprises a number of transverse grate bars 14, which may be mounted to rock back and forth in the usual manner. These bars 14 may be interconnected in any desired number of sections by links 15, pivoted at 16 to depending lugs 17 on the grate bars. Usually, the grate 13 is at least divided into a plurality of fore and aft sections, each with its link connecting the bars composing it, as described.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, each of the grate sections 13 is connected, by a link-rod l8 pivoted to the corresponding link 15 at 19, to the lower arm of a two-arm oscillatory grate-lever 20, of which there are preferably several at either side of the fire box. (See Fig. 2 and it should be noted here that the upper portion of levers 20 as well as the parts associated therewith are not illustrated in Fig. 1 because of the confusion which would result). These grate levers 20 are free to turn about an oscillatory shaker shaft extending transversely of the locomotive at the rear of the fire box 9,'and mounted in short square-holed journal-sleeves 26 whose bearings are in brackets 2'7 secured to the rear wall of the boiler. The levers 20 are so journalled on these same sleeves 26 as to be free to turn around the shaft 25. Between each pair of grate-levers 20 and their sleeves 26 are upwardly extending oscillatory arms 30, mounted on the shaft 25 in direct anti-turning engagement with it. To each of the arms 30 are hinged'latch yokeplates 32, adapted to swing down to engage the upper arms of the levers 2i), 20"at either side or to swing up out of engagement. By proper manipulation of the latches 32-, the grate section 13 can be selectively connected with the oscillatory shaft 25 and shaken singly,

agroupment desired. At the same time, the bars 14; of the grate sections not being shaken can be locked in their normal horizontal or up-right positions by means of locking yokes 36 (similar to the latches 32) pivoted to brackets 37 beside each of the grate-levers 20. For the sake of clarity, in Fig. 2, only one bracket 37, on each side, is shown with a locking yoke 36.

For oscillating the shaft 25 to shake the grate, there may be employed a fluid pressure motor if), of any preferred type and construction. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, this motor 40 is of a single cylinder type although it might be of a multiple cylinder type if such should prove more desirable or more readily utilized. It is mounted on a portion of the locomotive frame at ll. Its double piston 42 is operatively connected to one arm as of a rocker whose other arm i4 is connected by a link 45 to a lever 46 that is secured to the shaft 25,in the present instance, at its right-hand end (speaking with reference to Fig. 2), outside the grate-shaking levers 20 at that side of the locomotive. As here shown, motive fluid to operate the shaker motor 40 is supplied to the opposite ends of the motor cylinder and exhausted therefrom through pipes 48, as, which are connected to a control valve device 49, having a supply connection 59 for steam or other motive fluid under pressure and an exhaust connection 51 for the spent fluid.

As thus far described, the grate and its shaking mechanism are substantially of the well-known Franklin power grate shaker type, such, for example, as illustrated on page 411 of the Locomotive Cyclopedia published in 1927 by the Simmons-Boardman Publishing Company, New York, so that no further description of their construction or operation is here necessary.

As shown in Figs. 1-5, the control valve mechanism 49 is in general type and construction like that illustrated in the application of l-Ial R. Stafford, (deceased), Serial No. 610,530, filed Jan. 3rd. 1923, assigned to the assignees of this application. It comprises (see Figs. 3 and 4) a valvechest or casing, conveniently made in halves bolted together as at 52, with a reciprocating doubleacting slide valve 53 of D type therein. As shown in Fig. 3, the valve 53 has outside (steam) laps that normally cover the cylinder ports 54, 54, and inside clearances that normally permit exhaust from both ports concurrently. For moving the valve 53, there is provided an actuating hand lever or rocker 55 mounted to swing beside the valve-chest on a short shaft 56 journalled in a bore in the lower casing half 52a, and carrying a forked arm 57 (keyed fast to said shaft) within the exhaust space 58 of the valve-chest. The forked upper end of the arm 5'7 embraces an antifriction roller 59 on a pivot pin 60 extending across the interior of the valve 53. The valve 53 may be partially balanced, so as to be more easily moved, by means of a frictional packing ring 61 fitting close (but not tight) about a cylindrical boss 62 on the top of the valve, and urged against a finished surface on the under side of the valve chest cover by a helical compression spring 63 around said boss.

Instead of being fast on the end of the shaft 56 as described in the aforesaid application Serial No. 610,530, the hand lever 55 is here shown (Figs. 3-5) as free to turn around said shaft 56. Beyond the lever 55, there is a short lever arm 65, keyed fast to the shaft 56 at 66, and pivoted at 6''! to a floating lever 68, about at the middle of thelatter. One end of the floating lever 68,

is pivotally connected to the lower end 69 of the lever 55, being forked at 70 to fit over an antifriction roller '71 mounted on a pivot stud '72 on said lever 55. The other end of the floating lever 68 is connected by pivot 68b to a link-rod 75, which, in turn, is connected to a suitable} part or member actuated by the motor 40. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, there is a short lever arm 76 keyed fast to the shaft 25 outside thef grate shaking levers 20 at the other end of the shaft from the motor -40, and the link '75 is pivoted to this lever '76 at 77. Thus there is provided a follow-up connection between the main cross-shaft 25 of the shaking mechanism and the actuating means 55, 65, 68, etc., for the valve 53, so that any movement of the shaking mechanism initiated by manual operation of the lever 55 and the valve 53 causes a compensatory movement of the lever 68 tending to return the valve 53 to its initial normal mid-position shown in Fig. 3.

In other words, when valve lever 55 is initially operated by hand, lever 68 is moved on pin 681) as a pivot, causing a movement of the short 1ever 65, which turns the shaft 56 and moves valve 53 through the intermediation of arm 57. Movement of the valve, of course, effects movement of the piston of motor 40, causing a corresponding movement of main shaker shaft 25 and of such grate sections as are clutched to said shaft at the time; and movement of shaft 25, through lever 76 and link '75, effects'a movement of the pivot 685 which moves lever 68 on pin '72 as a pivot, thus efiecting a closure of the valve through the intermediation of parts 67, 65 and 56 aforesaid, whereupon the piston of motor 40 ceases to move further.

The construction just described constitutes a servo-motor actuating mechanism for the grate sections for it will be seen that the movement of the grate 13 by the motor 40 will always bear a definite quantitative relation or proportion to the corresponding movement of the control valve 53 by which such movement of the grate was brought about i. e., when the grate l3has been moved over a fraction of its operating range corresponding to the fraction of its travel by which valve 53 has been displaced from its inactive, normal, mid-position shown in Fig. 3, the movement of the grate 13 will automatically cease. This action relieves the operator of the necessity for watching or feeling the action of the grate 13 in response to a movement of the lever 55, and of being on the alert to return the lever 55 and the valve 53 to mid-position before the grate has been moved excessively or the fire dumped. Furthermore, any lost motion which may develop in the operating cylinder or in any of the parts or connections between its piston and the shaft 25 will be cared for automatically since the piston willmove far enough to take .3: such lost motion before the connection from the grate shaker shaft 25 to the operating shaft 56 will return the valve 53 to its neutral or midposition.

As an aid to the operator, and to make the shaking of the grate in a measure fool-proof, stops may be provided for definitely limiting the movement of the lever 55. As shown in Figs. 3.

a and 6, an adjustable stop device is provided A for this purpose, comprising a cylinder or barrel 81 mounted on a shaft 82 whose ends are secured in lugs 83, 83 depending from a plate 84, secured above the valve-chest cover bytwo of the bolts 52, 52. This cylinder 81 is provided with pairs of stop lugs 85, 85, 86, 86, 8'7, 87, etc., at varying distances apart, so that by turning the proper pair of lugs in position to engage the lever 55 and limit its range of movement, the movement imparted to the grate 13 can be definitely and automatically determined and made anything desired,from the mildest rocking to an extreme throw sufficient to dump the fire. Preferably, means may be provided for yieldingly locking the stop cylinder 81 in any desired position, such as a boss-topped bolt or latch 90 having a rounded head 91 for engaging a series of socket depressions 92 in the barrel 81, corresponding in position to the several pairs of stoplugs 85, 85 etc., on the latter. As shown, this bolt 90 is yieldinglydepressed to engage the sockets 92 by a helical compression spring 93 act-" ing between its head 91 and the bottom of a bore in the structure 84 through which the bolt extends.

1. A pressure-operatedgrate-shaker mechanism for a multi-section grate, comprising a shaking motor, a shaking shaft with linkage connecting it to said motor, a control valve for the motor, actuating means for said valve, means at each side of the grate for selectively connecting sections thereof to said shaking shaft adjacent the ends of the latter, means comprising a connection between said shaking shaft and said valve actuating means adapted to close the valve upon completion of the desired movement of the shaking shaft for proportioning the movement of said shaft by the motor to the corresponding movement of said control valve regardless of the amount of lost motion in the mechanism, and adjustable stop means for variably limiting the movement of said valve actuating means.

2. A pressure-operated grateshaker for a multi-section grate, comprising a shaking motor, a control valve therefor, an actuating lever for said valve, a shaking shaft with means of connection to motor and grate, the connection means to the grate including means at each side thereof for selective connection of grate sections to the shaking shaft which shaft is common to all sections of the grate, means for proportioning the movement of the shaft by the motor to the corresponding movement of said control valve comprising a connection between said shaking shaft and said valve actuating lever adapted to close the valve upon completion of the desired movement of the shaking shaft, a rotary member adjacent said lever with variously spaced stops at different angular positions thereon for limiting movement of said lever, and means for locking said memberin various angular positions.

3. A pressure-operated grate-shaker mechanism for a multi-section grate, comprising a single shaking motor positioned at one side of the grate, a shaking shaft extending from side to side of the grate and common to the operation of all the sections thereof, linkage connecting said motor to said shaft adjacent one end of the latter, a control valve for the motor located toward one side of the grate and positioned well above said shaft and grate, said valve being connected with said motor for the operation of the latter only byfiuid pressure connections, reciprocable actuating means for said valve whereby the valve may be moved to alternately admit and exhaust fluid under pressure to each of said connections in turn, means at each side of the grate for selectively connecting sections thereof to said shaking shaft adjacent the ends of the latter, means comprising a mechanical connection secured to said shaking shaft for reciprocation thereby and connected to said valve actuating means, said last mentioned means being reciprocated in a direction to close the valve upon completion of the desired movement of the shaking shaft, whereby the movement of said shaft by the motor is proportioned to the corresponding movement of said control valve regardless of the amount of lost motion in the linkage connecting the shaking shaft and motor, and stop means for normally limiting the extent of movement of said valve by its actuating means within a restricted range such as to prevent undesired dumping of the fire on the grate.

4. A pressure-operated grate-shaker mechanism for a multi-section grate, comprising a shaking motor, a shaking shaft with linkage connecting it to said motor, a control valve for the motor, actuating means for said valve, means at each side of the grate for selectively connecting sections thereof to said shaking shaft adjacent the ends of the latter, means comprising a connection between said shaking shaft and said valve actuating means adapted to close the valve upon completion of the desired movement of the shaking shaft for proportioning the movement of said shaft by the motor to the corresponding movement of said control valve regardless of the amount of lost motion in the mechanism, and stop means for normally limiting the extent of movement of said valve by its actuating means within a restricted range such as to prevent undesired dumping of the fire on the grate.

' GEORGE H. ZOUCK.

RALPH H. SHEPARD. 

